Ontario's Flu Vaccine Strategy

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Ontario's Flu Vaccine Strategy

Ontario will immunize people 65 years of age and older, including those residing in long-term care homes, with seasonal flu vaccine first.

Ontario will offer the rest of the province's population the H1N1 vaccine beginning in November followed by a universal influenza immunization program with the seasonal flu vaccine in the months following. Ontario's decision to take this approach is based on scientific analysis by the province's top immunization experts suggesting that this vaccination sequence strategy will provide the greatest benefit to the population's health.

Vaccine Delivery

Ontario is adopting a phased approach in rolling out two flu immunization programs this year. There will be enough H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine for all Ontarians who need and want to be vaccinated.

Timing of Flu Shot

Target Population

IMMUNIZATION DURING OCTOBER

Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Persons 65 years and over living in Ontario

Residents of long-term care homes

IMMUNIZATION BEGINS IN NOVEMBER

H1N1 Vaccine

Those who would benefit most from immunization and/or those who care for them:

Household contacts and care providers of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized or may not respond to vaccines

Others who would benefit from immunization include:

Adults 65 years of age and over

Healthy children five to 18 years of age

First responders

Swine and poultry workers

Healthy adults between 19 and 64 years of age

IMMUNIZATION BEGINS IN DECEMBER/JANUARY

Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Universal influenza immunization program (UIIP) for all people six months of age and older who live, work or attend school in Ontario

Circulating Flu Strains

Based on experience in the southern hemisphere where the pandemic H1N1 flu virus has been dominant, we are anticipating a possible re-emergence of the H1N1 virus in Canada this fall, followed by the circulation of seasonal influenza strains later in the season. Public health officials anticipate that the pandemic H1N1 flu virus will be the predominant strain circulating this fall. Broad flu vaccination in Ontario will be sharply focused on the H1N1 vaccine.

Flu Vaccine Sequencing

Epidemiological studies show that seniors are most at risk of serious complications, hospitalization and even death from infection with seasonal flu. On the other hand, data shows that infection from the pandemic H1N1 virus does not typically occur in persons over age 60, probably as a result of residual immunity from exposure to H1N1 prior to 1957.

Other population groups are encouraged to delay immunization with seasonal vaccine because some Canadian studies suggest a potential association between prior seasonal influenza vaccination and the risk of acquiring infection with H1N1 flu.

Although these studies are still undergoing further analysis, we want to take a position of precaution. Ontarians who are neither over 65 years old nor residing in long-term care homes are encouraged to get immunized against the H1N1 flu virus first, followed by seasonal flu vaccination.